Gerard Posted 19 March 2017 Share Posted 19 March 2017 For me yesterday wasn't a massive game for Premier League survival but our Champions League hopes. The next two games coming up are equally massive and "must win" games. If we can win both those games we will have 36pts and it allows Shakey some legroom to gamble and play a second XI against Everton (a) and Palace (a) whilst keeping the first XI as fresh as possible and allowing them to fully focus on Atletico Madrid with an eight day break from the Sunderland match and the six days between the Atletico matches. Look how close our fixtures are together and after we ran out of steam against West Ham after the hour mark we don't want to be desperate for points against Everton and Palace. I've put in bold what I would like the first XI fixtures to be. 1st Stoke (h) 4th Sunderland (h) 9th Everton (a) 12th Atletico Madrid (a) 15th Crystal Palace (a) 18th Atletico Madrid (h) This season might be the perfect storm for us again as we've had to up our game to get out of the relegation battle but we're not too far out of it that we can just switch off and expect to turn it on again for the Champions League. So what a great week it's been that we've achieved both our targets and now have a break to concentrate on taking maximum points from both our next two home games. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strokes Posted 19 March 2017 Share Posted 19 March 2017 Just now, Gerard said: For me yesterday wasn't a massive game for Premier League survival but our Champions League hopes. The next two games coming up are equally massive and "must win" games. If we can win both those games we will have 36pts and it allows Shakey some legroom to gamble and play a second XI against Everton (a) and Palace (a) whilst keeping the first XI as fresh as possible and allowing them to fully focus on Atletico Madrid with an eight day break from the Sunderland match and the six days between the Atletico matches. Look how close our fixtures are together and after we ran out of steam against West Ham after the hour mark we don't want to be desperate for points against Everton and Palace. I've put in bold what I would like the first XI fixtures to be. 1st Stoke (h) 4th Sunderland (h) 9th Everton (a) 12th Atletico Madrid (a) 15th Crystal Palace (a) 18th Atletico Madrid (h) This season might be the perfect storm for us again as we've had to up our game to get out of the relegation battle but we're not too far out of it that we can just switch off and expect to turn it on again for the Champions League. So what a great week it's been that we've achieved both our targets and now have a break to concentrate on taking maximum points from both our next two home games. They've had all the break they need with our mid season slump, keep them in and let's keep winning. I wouldn't change what doesn't need changing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spiritwalker Posted 19 March 2017 Share Posted 19 March 2017 You can say that again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmarteyAndChill Posted 19 March 2017 Share Posted 19 March 2017 I agree Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Koke Posted 19 March 2017 Share Posted 19 March 2017 Only thing that worries me is we looked shattered against West Ham. The Sevilla game took a lot out of the players both physically and emotionally. The 2 Atletico games will be similar in terms of what it will take out of the players. I hope that our league form doesn't take a nose dive again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foxes_rule1978 Posted 19 March 2017 Share Posted 19 March 2017 6 minutes ago, Koke said: Only thing that worries me is we looked shattered against West Ham. The Sevilla game took a lot out of the players both physically and emotionally. The 2 Atletico games will be similar in terms of what it will take out of the players. I hope that our league form doesn't take a nose dive again. It is important we have a good cushion in the league, because we will need to play pretty much a second string side against Everton if we want to even have a chance of progressing in the CL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weller54 Posted 19 March 2017 Share Posted 19 March 2017 Musa loves playing at Goodison!.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UPinCarolina Posted 19 March 2017 Share Posted 19 March 2017 2 minutes ago, weller54 said: Musa loves playing at Goodison!.. True. He had a stormer in the FA Cup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charl91 Posted 19 March 2017 Share Posted 19 March 2017 So, how big was this win against West Ham? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HighPeakFox Posted 19 March 2017 Share Posted 19 March 2017 5 minutes ago, Charl91 said: So, how big was this win against West Ham? Large Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark_from_USA Posted 19 March 2017 Share Posted 19 March 2017 The biggest. Tremendously big. We need our stamina for the Champions League. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuchsntf Posted 19 March 2017 Share Posted 19 March 2017 39 minutes ago, Gerard said: For me yesterday wasn't a massive game for Premier League survival but our Champions League hopes. The next two games coming up are equally massive and "must win" games. If we can win both those games we will have 36pts and it allows Shakey some legroom to gamble and play a second XI against Everton (a) and Palace (a) whilst keeping the first XI as fresh as possible and allowing them to fully focus on Atletico Madrid with an eight day break from the Sunderland match and the six days between the Atletico matches. Look how close our fixtures are together and after we ran out of steam against West Ham after the hour mark we don't want to be desperate for points against Everton and Palace. I've put in bold what I would like the first XI fixtures to be. 1st Stoke (h) 4th Sunderland (h) 9th Everton (a) 12th Atletico Madrid (a) 15th Crystal Palace (a) 18th Atletico Madrid (h) This season might be the perfect storm for us again as we've had to up our game to get out of the relegation battle but we're not too far out of it that we can just switch off and expect to turn it on again for the Champions League. So what a great week it's been that we've achieved both our targets and now have a break to concentrate on taking maximum points from both our next two home games. 6 games in 18 days.... Theres the must of staying up... Against CL, we all want to be at least in with a chance to go through in thid unique maybe only season in the CL....Not easy, but this is the body tingling action we love to live on... Rest...who needs one, it will be the use of subs that might be the important critical player pause, we need to use.... Who knows... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ithuriel Posted 19 March 2017 Share Posted 19 March 2017 Hull have played a game more and are six points adrift of us, I cant see them winning more than at least 4 of their remaining 9 games so 3 wins from our last 10 should be more than enough. The Everton game will probably see a few players given a chance to stake a claim for a place and some first teamers rested. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harpendenfox Posted 19 March 2017 Share Posted 19 March 2017 I think we can use our quality squad players a bit. So start Chilwell a bit to preserve Fuchs. Give Gray a couple of starts. Slimani too. Now he's had an outing Benny too. Not sure we can rest either N'didi or Drinky though for lack of viable alternatives. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maddog Posted 19 March 2017 Share Posted 19 March 2017 Everton are on form so that away game is probably a loss even with our first choice side. I'd play all the reserves at Everton and then see how the table looks and the state of play after the first leg. We need everyone 1000% fit for 90 minutes of slogging in Madrid to stay in the tie for the home leg. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrentFox Posted 19 March 2017 Share Posted 19 March 2017 About to make a point that doesn't really need making, but I look at that table and wonder how many points we'd have got from the last three league games playing as we were. Who knows. Can't help thinking we'd be in a really dire position now. All hypothetical, but I honestly believe the owners couldn't have waited another week to do what they did. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EGBFitness Posted 19 March 2017 Share Posted 19 March 2017 It was an important win, sitting on 30 points now gives us some space and good chance of survival. Will be interesting to see how we approach the Palace game in between Madrid games. Personally id be happy to throw the Everton game and pick up 7 points from Palace, Stoke and Sunderland - sticks is on 37 points which is pretty much survival with a few games left to play in the season and hopefully fresh side to give Madrid a good game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerard Posted 19 March 2017 Author Share Posted 19 March 2017 11 minutes ago, harpendenfox said: I think we can use our quality squad players a bit. So start Chilwell a bit to preserve Fuchs. Give Gray a couple of starts. Slimani too. Now he's had an outing Benny too. Not sure we can rest either N'didi or Drinky though for lack of viable alternatives. 36pts and play this team versus Everton. Slimani Ulloa Musa Mendy King Gray Chilwell Wasilewski Benalouane Amartey Zieler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sm1 Posted 19 March 2017 Share Posted 19 March 2017 The next two games are essential. If we get 6 pts against Stoke and Sunderland, it gives Shakey the option to use reserve teams against Palace & Everton. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chico1958 Posted 19 March 2017 Share Posted 19 March 2017 Either way people it's going to be a nervous finish. Thank god some of them will get a rest over the next two weeks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StriderHiryu Posted 19 March 2017 Share Posted 19 March 2017 26 minutes ago, sm1 said: The next two games are essential. If we get 6 pts against Stoke and Sunderland, it gives Shakey the option to use reserve teams against Palace & Everton. Exactly. Make a call after these games. So far Shakey hasn't had a setback, but it's inevitable one will come along. So although our outlook is now quite positive, we can't take anything for granted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest CityFan 06 Posted 19 March 2017 Share Posted 19 March 2017 2 hours ago, Koke said: Only thing that worries me is we looked shattered against West Ham. The Sevilla game took a lot out of the players both physically and emotionally. The 2 Atletico games will be similar in terms of what it will take out of the players. I hope that our league form doesn't take a nose dive again. I suppose this is when Shakespeare will have to look at integrating the likes of Chilwell, Gray, Amartey/King/Mendy, Slimani etc to keep things fresh. As you have pointed out, we can't afford another slip up in league form so we might have to start utilising other players. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted Maul Posted 19 March 2017 Share Posted 19 March 2017 We need to make sure we get at least 4 points from the next 2 home games so we can afford to give a couple of players a rest at Everton. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RODNEY FERNIO Posted 19 March 2017 Share Posted 19 March 2017 Atletico versus Sevilla .. kick off 3.15 pm .... interesting to see how it goes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StanSP Posted 19 March 2017 Share Posted 19 March 2017 18 minutes ago, RODNEY FERNIO said: Atletico versus Sevilla .. kick off 3.15 pm .... interesting to see how it goes. this is why it was a massive win against West Ham. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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